BALI – Waterbom Bali, voted Asia’s #1 waterpark by TripAdvisor’s Travellers Choice Awards 2022, broke ground this month on stage one of a massive park expansion, set to open in 2023 when the park will also celebrate its 30th Anniversary.
Waterbom’s expansion will add 1.3 hectares of fun to the park, with sustainability at its core. Expect a new tropical, lagoon pool and sunken pool bar, sun lounges submerged in the water, poolside gazebos, new restaurants, a winding slide tower centrepiece with cantilevered viewing platform, and of course new slides.
With original plans to launch the new slides and pool area in 2020, the covid pandemic put this on hold. Instead the land next door to the park was transformed into a farm and garden area by the team, to provide veggies and fruit at ultra low prices to the 300 staff kept on during the pandemic closures. Since Bali’s borders re-opened in April 2022, and as the park is filling with guests again, Waterbom is ready to grow organically in their Kuta location, and expand to over 5 hectares of fun and eco-friendly water adventures.
Waterbom CEO, Sayan Gulino
With a collective vision from Waterbom’s Founder, CEO and management team working closely with architect Conchita Blanco of Blanco Studio, the focal point of the new space will be the sustainably-designed 20 metre tall slide tower, an impressive monument featuring a cantilevered viewing platform allowing guests to enjoy a tree-top view over the park and new pool area.
“I designed a tower which is intertwined between the slides and through the trees as one unified piece. I wanted to create a sense of continuity by designing an experience of moving in a circular direction as you would when you are inside the waterslides. We want the guest’s journey to the top of the tower to be a sensory climb through nature, while winding around the slides.” said Conchita Blanco, Architect, Blanco Studio.
New slides will take centre stage, with 4 new thrills to experience, as well as locally-made poolside bamboo gazebos, and group spots for friends and families to gather together within the gardens and enjoy the park.
Guests can enjoy more of the tasty, premium comfort food that Waterbom is known for, with an open-air 80 seat restaurant being added, with new Pan-Asian, Indonesian and Western favourites made fresh daily from local ingredients at live cooking stations, as well as a new tree-house style coffee spot with a selection of beans from Pupuan and other regions in Bali and Flores.
The new expansion will be a continuation of the ethos to not cut down any trees in the construction of the park, (the original directive of the park’s Founder, Santo Gulino, 30 years ago when Waterbom opened) with the new addition honouring this philosophy by adapting the design around the existing trees. Working closely with landscape designer Anton Clarke of Bali Landscape Company, a dense forest area will be created surrounding the new expansion with a mix of native species and tropical plants being hand-picked by Waterbom CEO, Sayan Gulino in nearby West Java.
Waterbom works closely with Sustainability consultants to ensure every detail in the design will reduce their footprint and support their sustainability goals, such as the underground pumps and water pipes in the new tower and slides being strategically positioned and designed to ensure minimal water loss, and maximum water conservation. The tower roof will feature solar panels positioned optimally to capture maximum sunlight throughout the day and contribute solar energy to the park’s grid. A rainwater harvesting system will also be installed within the expansion and (as with the current park), energy and water saving initiatives will be implemented to work toward Waterbom’s net-zero goals.
“Eco-tourism, sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint has always been the core of Waterbom Bali. We have consciously developed the waterpark to compliment the natural environment, introducing business practices that reduce waste while protecting Bali’s natural resources. As a business leader it is important to be passionate and believe in these values which will create a ripple effect amongst employees, inspiring and encouraging them to act the same and be mindful about the environment,” said Sayan Gulino, CEO at Waterbom.
Following Waterbom’s cultural values aligned with the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana (harmony with nature, people and spirituality) the design team consulted with a local Hindu priest and Waterbom staff to design a new temple as part of the expansion, adapting elements from temple designs from different regions in Bali and symbolising the ties to the island, while showing appreciation for the happiness and abundance the park generates for guests and staff.
With stage one scheduled to open in April/May 2023, (with a larger family and dedicated kid’s slide area slated as Stage 2 for end 2023) the park expansion ensures Waterbom remains a must-visit destination for both loyal fans and new tourists to the island, providing a tropical jungle oasis to escape the hustle and bustle of Kuta for a day.***
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